Do You Know the Common Uses of These Handyman Tools?

Robin Tyler

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About This Quiz

A handyman is only as good as his tools. Without them, he simply cannot get the job done.

Just think about it, no matter what the job, big or small, there will be a screw that needs to be turned into wood, metal or even stone. There will be holes that need to be drilled, wood that must be cut to the right size and sanded, painting jobs and more, much more. And for that, a handyman has a tool for each specific job... and possibly a large toolbox to fit them all in!

That said, for those who just fix things around the house, there is no need for a wide range of tools. The basics are often good enough. A few good tools can go a long way for the small DIY jobs. For anything more complicated, it's probably better to call the professionals.

So let's cut to the chase then. Let's see how many handyman tools you can identify from just a description of a few sentences. Most are pretty self-explanatory, while a few others might cause you to think a little!

Just take your time and think carefully!

And a handyman you should prove to be!

Good luck!

You're not a handyman if you don't have this. You can't push nails in with your finger!

Sometimes things need to be hit. That's where a hammer comes in useful. As an example, a tight bolt might need a friendly tap to loosen it. Or the more obvious - a nail that needs to be smashed into some wood. Hammers are useful for many things!

To turn in screws, you will need this. Make sure you have the right one for the right screw type.

The two main types of screwdrivers are the flat head and the Phillips. These are used for two different screw types, and you certainly want both in your toolbox. No handyman should leave home without them.

Need a hole in a wall, in wood... in anything? Then this is you go to tool!

Back in the day, drills had to be cranked by hand to drill into wood and the like. Nowadays, home drills are sturdy and can drill into practically anything. If they can't, get an industrial drill!

To cut metal, you need a very specific type of cutting tool. The one that cuts through wood just won't do. What would a handyman use?

Hacksaws have blades with fine teeth, perfect for cutting through metals. This is the saw you turn to when faced with a metal bar that needs to be shortened, for example.

Need to piece a guiding hole, or punch a hole in thick wood or leather. You can use a special tool. What is it called?

An awl is simply a tool with a wooden handle (normally) and a piece of metal with a sharp tip. It is used to pierce holes in a variety of objects.

A place on your person to hang your tools. What is it called?

Tool belts are fantastic if you need to keep your tools close. It has loops to hang tools, small pockets for nails and screws and many other storage areas.

The most versatile 'tool' in a handyman's toolbox can stick things together, close things up and do a whole lot more. What are we talking about?

Duct tape is simply incredible. Certainly, no handyman should be without a roll (or two).

If you are drilling, sawing or using a hammer, wearing these are a necessity.

To protect your eyes, a pair of safety glasses should always be in a handyman's toolbox.

This tool can be used in many ways. It can cut small wires, hold bolts on one side while you tighten them, and so much more. Can you name it?

A range of pliers are important in the work of a handyman including the flat nose.

If you want to tighten nuts, this is the tool you need. What is it?

A handyman won't only have one spanner, he will have a few. Spanners are perfect for tightening or releasing nuts in easy to reach places.

Need to measure anything? This is what a handyman uses.

A tape measure of around 50 feet is a toolbox essential for a handyman. You will be measuring often.

Perfect to shine a little light on the subject, can you guess this handyman toolbox essential?

Handymen don't always work in the light! For that reason, a torch is a necessity. Actually, a headlamp is probably better as it means you have two free hands, not just one.

A wide variety of these is required. Some are used on wood, others for masonry. What are they?

No point in having a drill if you don't have drill bits. They come in different types with some being good for drilling through wood, others for masonry and others for drilling through metal.

These tools can do many things. They are becoming a popular addition to a handyman's tool belt. What are we talking about?

A multitool has many little tools on it, including various screwdrivers, a small saw, and other things. The great thing is they can be carried around in your back pocket.

When things need to be sealed, a handyman uses this.

A caulking gun is used to seal piping for example. It can also be used to apply silicone to seal tiles in a bathroom.

A handyman will use these to protect their hearing.

Working with drills, hammers and other tools that can generate a fair amount of noise means that a handyman should have some form of ear protection. Earmuffs are perfect in this regard.

To ensure the shelf is hung straight, this is the tool to use.

A level is a simple way to tell if something is straight. It simply uses liquid to show if a shelf, for example, is straight or not before you hang it in place.

Having a few of these will help you open many fasteners you come across.

Never leave home without them! Many manufacturers use bolts with Allen key heads, so having a range of sizes is a great idea as well. Having a metric and standard set is what you should aim for.

Helps you reach nuts, bolts and screws that are higher than you can reach.

Not much explanation needed. A stepladder, although not a necessity in a handyman's arsenal, certainly can come in very handy.

Sometimes the area where you work may be far from electricity. Then you need this to bring the power to you.

Another useful, but not quite necessary handyman tool. An extension cord is useful in working in areas without a power point.

Name the tool used to take off pieces of wood, for instance, to prepare the part of a door where a hinge would be embedded.

A chisel is used to remove small pieces of wood with its sharp blade. An essential tool of a wood worker, it is not out of place in a handyman's toolbox either.

The perfect tool to tighten bolts of any size is listed below. What is it?

A socket set, along with a socket tool and extender, means no bolt is a problem for a handyman.

This offers heavy duty protection for your hands; you never know when you will need it.

If you are using heavy duty machinery, wearing gloves is probably a good option. Leather gloves offer good protection without losing the 'feel.'

This power tool is used to shape wood or to give it a beautiful finish. Name it.

To apply a nice smooth finish to wood, or to shape it to some degree, you can use an electric sander.

When drilling or sanding, you would use one of these to protect your lungs. What is it?

A mask will ensure that no fine dust or sawdust is inhaled into your lungs. It is a must in this regard.

Always found behind the ear of any good handyman, this is used for making marks or doing calculations.

There are lots of marks to make and calculations to work out in the life of a handyman. Your pencil should never be far from you then.

If working with electrical wires, these can come in handy.

Wire strippers are brilliant for taking off the outer coating of electrical wire and stripping it off, just leaving the wire itself. Although not an absolute necessity for a handyman's toolbox, it can come in very useful.

A handyman that does some plumbing work will have a need for this.

Ok, a leak detector is certainly not an essential tool, but for the handyman who wants everything, it should be in his toolbox. And when you do need to find a leak, it's far better to use this than breaking down walls.

The one tool for any size bolt, this is certainly very useful.

A few different sized crescent wrenches can do the job of triple the amount of spanners. They do not grip as well though, so there is a slight downfall.

If you need to cut something, use this.

A useful tool, side snips can cut plastic, thin sheets of metal, wires and piping. Useful, hey?

This can be used to hold onto things in places that are difficult to reach.

Needlenose pliers have a thin tapering tip that makes a point. This is useful for gripping things in hard to reach places or to bend pieces of wire, for example.

This tool is useful for cleaning up afterwards.

When a handyman is finished with his work, he cleans up! Think about it, all that drilling and sanding is going to leave some dust, and the best way to deal with that is a brush!

For cutting almost anything, for example, sandpaper into the sizes you want, what would you use?

Snip, cut, snip! Although not essential, it's not a bad idea for a handyman to have a pair of heavy duty scissors, if not in his toolbox, then in his workshop.

Use this as the perfect way to finish off the shaping of a piece of wood.

Sandpaper comes in a range of grades, some rough and some finer. It can be used for all kinds of sanding work, it's easy to store and won't take up any space in a toolbox.

For an effective way to stick two pieces of wood together or to make sure a wood joint is really secure, use this.

Wood glue is strong and resilient and can form a very strong bond. Many handymen have a bottle of wood glue in their kits in case of an emergency.

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